Jump to content

Bethan

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    81

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by Bethan

  1. Posted · Report reply

    On the Planning Application - Consultants Comments

     

    1)  Shropshire Council shows concerns about :     Drainage,    Archeology (historic Environment),     and Public Right of Way (PROW) not identified correctly

     

    2) Ramblers Association and Shropshire Wildlife Trust do not seem to have been consulted.

     

          Why wait to be consulted!   If you are concerned, contact the SCC Planners ref Application 14/03946/FUL and make your point!

     

                  There's only a few days left!

    Robmit reacted to this

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Saw this objection by Sue Cowley (Whittington Parish Clerk) in the 'Public Comments' section of the Application :

     

    Comment submitted date: Tue 11 Nov 2014

    Members of Whittington Parish Council feel that this application should be deferred as there is not enough information to make a reasonable judgment on the impact to the quality and character of the countryside. There should have been public consultation meetings held in the parishes that are affected by this application. The meeting for Selattyn and Gobowen, the parish mainly affected by this application, is due on    November, this should have been held before in this parish not St Martins. As Whittington is also affected this application should be deferred until a public meeting in the parish is arranged.

     

    Unfortunately, Sue has quoted the wrong date for the meeting which is why it is not shown above (to avoid any more confusion!)

     

    The Meeting is, of course, on the Thursday 20th November in the Pavilion at 7.00 pm

     

    Lets hope that the very least our Parish Councillors will do, is the same as Whittington.

    Rosie and Robmit reacted to this

  4. Posted · Report reply

    For those who haven't accessed the Sellatyn and Gobowen Parish Council web site, here's the address:

     

    www.2shrop.net/Selattyn%20and%20Gobowen%20Parish%20Council

     

    The agenda for the Meeting to discuss the Solar Panel application can now be viewed.

     

    Everyone interested should attend, if only to listen other people's point of view - in particular the Councillors views - after all they are elected to represent all residents.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Has anyone read the JBA Consultants document  -  it's 58 pages long!! Quite a lot of duplication, but.......

     

    On page 39, para. Mitigation  -  in summary it suggests:

     

    Potential to reduce visual prominence  - 

     

    Plant new hedgerows

    Infill gaps

    Allow existing hedges to grow to 3M in height

     

    If anyone thought that 2M fences were an eyesore, imagine what 3M hedges all over the place would look like!!

     

    After all, neighbours, by law, are only allowed hedges to grow to 2M high

  7. Posted · Report reply

    I'm not sure of the exact 'deadline' , but it's about the 20th/21st November. The SITE NOTICE (dated 28th October)  says 21 days from this date, but the Parish Council are holding a Public Meeting on Thursday 20th November at The Pavillion in Gobowen to discuss.

    I've just noticed that a copy of the Site Notice has been posted in the photo Gallery above. If you 'click' on the option 'Large' you can read it!

    How clever this website is!!!!

  8. Posted · Report reply

    I've checked the Parish Council Agenda for their mext meeting on Wednesday 12th November and regretfully the application 14/03946/FUL (Solar Farm) is not mentioned although it can be viewed in the Shropshire Planning website.

    I understand that this application has been set aside for a special meeting to be held on 20th November at the Pavillion in Gobowen to give the maximum opportunity for extended puplic participation, BUT, surely, it should be on the Council's Agenda on the 12th even if only to remind people of the special meeting on the following Thursday (20th).

     

    There's not a lot of time left, so we should all encourage the objectors to put it in writing, attend the meeting, and not just talk about it!!

  11. Posted · Report reply

    Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council will be holding a special meeting to consider the solar farm application at Rhosygadfa number 14/03946/FUL on Thursday 20th November at 7pm in the Pavilion, Gobowen Playing Field, St Martins Road. I can confirm that the time set aside for public participation will be extended from the usual 15 minutes.

    I think it is planned for the usual Parish Council Meeting on the Wednesday 12 November at The Pavilion. Will this subject be on the agenda for that meeting also?

  14. Posted · Report reply

    I whole-heartedly agree, Robmit – but it just goes to show how short-sighted the planners are!

    I’d like to think that a substantial amount of the electricity supplied to Wrexham is generated by the wind farms that are already operational. They are not a pretty site either, and we also have to bear in mind that the majority of Solar Panels are manufactured in China. We all know their reputation on pollution.

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Plans have been submitted by SP Energy and approved for a 132kV electricity line (approx 13 miles overhead and 3 miles underground) between Legacy (Wrexham) to Oswestry. This is expected to be completed by Summer 2015. The cost is approx. £22,000,000 and is sufficient to supply electricity to 130,000 homes in Shropshire/Mid Wales. It's route goes very close to Rhosygadfa.

     

    The Solar Farm at Rhosygadfa(78 Acres with 60,000 panels) will generate sufficient electricity for approx 4000 homes. Although the cost has not been published, is it reasonable to assume that it will be substantially greater than the new line from Wrexham to Oswestry.

     

    My assumption is based on the following article in the Shropshire Star 16th Sept 2014

     

    “Contractors are expected to move on to the site at Wheat Leasows in Hadley this week to start building the commercial-scale 4MW capacity solar farm.

    It is hoped energy could be produced from November. It comes as Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet prepares to discuss ways it can make money from the solar farm at a meeting on Thursday.

    IZEN energy systems was awarded the contract to build the solar farm earlier this month. More than 15,000 solar panels will be installed and should generate enough energy to power more than 800 homes.

    A financial model shows the council expects to make more than £13.6 million over the planned 25-year life time of the farm while more than £9.2 million will be spent, including financing costs – a surplus of £4.41 million.

    The money would be poured into services for elderly and young people and the environment, according to council chiefs”

     

    If a 15,000-panel installation in Telford involves a spend of £9.2 million, then a 60,000-panel installation in Rhosygadfa could be nearly four times as much (say £36 million).

     

    Where is the logic in spending £22 million for supplying electricity to 130,000 homes from an overland line

    and £36 million for 4,000 homes from a Solar Farm!!!

     

    We’ll never get our National Debt down at this rate!!!

  17. Posted · Edited by Bethan · Report reply

    Application now in for consideration.

    EVERYONE TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT ALL THE DOCUMENTATION.

    The Official Site Notice is date 28th October 2014 and states :

    All REPRESENTATIONS or COMMENTS are to be submitted within 21 days from the date of this Site Notice. Any in writing are to be sent to the address below stating the Planning Reference Number : Development Management, Oswestry Area Office, Castle View, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 1JR

    There's not much time to voice your opinion.

    I was under the impression that there was going to be a 12 weeks consultation period for this large project?

  18. Posted · Report reply

    I wonder if anyone went to see Owen Paterson last Friday at his Surgery in The Oswestrian?

    Would be interesting to here his point of view on use of good agricultural land for Solar Energy v Food Production

    or would it be the normal politician's reply - non-commital and a little vague!

    I understand there are 18 applications, in our area alone, with Shropshire County Planners (Ebnal Lodge is not one of them yet) to do with Solar Farm Installations of which 4 have been Granted Permission,  6 are Pending Consideration, 2 are Pending Decision, and the status of the other 6 is Not Available.

    Is this just the start??

  19. Posted · Report reply

    So glad the Parish Council are going to hold the Special Meeting regarding the Solar Farm project at Ebnal Lodge Farm. It will have a HUGE impact on the area if it all gets the go-ahead and deserves to be given adequate time for consultation.

    I don't think anyone will disagree with Liam, Solar Energy IS the way forward, but lets get real and exhaust all the rooftop sites and other 'brown field' sites before committing prime agricultural land to 25 years of limited use. Afterall, we cannot eat electricity and these other methods provide REAL benefits to local industry and residents.

    Maggie reacted to this

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks for your response.

    I look forward to reading the agenda. Please confirm that the agenda will indicate the chairman's discretion to increase the Public Consultaion period if this application will be discussed.

    As regards to the Community Infrastructure Levy, this is set by the 'Charging Authority'

    It reflects the energy output of the plant (MWp) and has no relation to the 'New Housing Levy'

    I understand that the various levies are flexible, which suggests they are negotiable.

    Did anyone look into this when Elgin Energy made the offer?

    It would be interesting to know who is on this Charging Authority.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Went to the exhibition at The Pavilion tonight.

     

    Disappointing that so few Councillors were there from Sellatyn and Gobowen or Whittington Councils. Would have liked to have seen more Gobowen residents present also as many use the roads around Rhosygadfa, Hindford, St Martins, etc. for walking, riding, running etc.

     

    Only some questions were answered. My recallections/points made are as follows :

     

    Lifespan of project contracted to 25 years, but panels have lifespan of 30 - 40 years.

    Disposal of site materials and returning land to original state not discussed. Elgin (if they are still in existance then) will be responsible.

    Government subsidies end in April 2015, Elgin did not know length of consultation period before grant is withdrawn.

    Land is registered as grade 3 (as is most of Shropshire!)

    78 acres  will be covered with 60,000 panels (largest in Shropshire) and will yield 15 MWp of electricity to the National Grid.

    Connection to the grid will be via underground cables near Ebnal Lodge to the grid lines (about 108 meters?)

    No Pylons involved.

    No trees or hedges to be cut down or uprooted, but their maintenance and by whom over the period of the project not clear.

    It is also unclear what the effect would be on the land being in permenant shadow from the panels.  

    CCTV cameras will be installed 3 mteres above ground. Who will monitor is unclear.

    Sellatyn and Gobowen Parich Council has been offered a 'once only' offer of £60,000 (£4,000 per MWp X 15 MWp) and Whittington Council will probably be offered a similar amount as part of the project is within their district. Elgin regret that this has been published. Whether this is negotiable and with whom on the Parish Councils is not known! Councillors at the exhibition either did not know or were not prepared to say. It is not clear whether the rate of £4,000 per MWp has been offered to other Councils in Shropshire who have been approached for planning concent. There have been projects that have been refused permission.

    The controversial, multi-million pound project to erect power lines from Wrexam to Oswestry will cross part of this Solar Farm - yet another 'blot' on the landscape!

     

    Parish Council Meetings take place at the Pavillion on the 2nd Wed in the month. Next meeting 8th October?

    As it is likely that this project will have been presented by then, and as it is the largest of it's kind in Shropshire, it would be pleasing to hear if they will be prepared to allocate more time than the 15 minutes for Public discussion at this meeting. Afterall, the residents would like to hear what each of their elected members think about this project rather than read the result in the Parish Council Minutes.

  25. Posted · Report reply

    This is an extract from the Shropshir Star :

     

    David Meehan, for Elgin Energy EsCo Ltd, said: “We can confirm that we are committed to paying a one-off community contribution to Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council upon successful completion of the project. The details are  £4,000 will be paid per megawatt peak (MWp) installed, for example the total payment would be £60,000 for a 15MWp installation, and payment will be made 30 days after the project is Ofgem accredited. We are also making an offer to Whittington Parish Council.”

     

    Very nice, but who negotiated this deal? Is there a hint of pressure here to get the project approved?

×
×
  • Create New...